[Screenshots!] Official Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Thread

Set hundreds of years after the end events of Final Fantasy XIII-2, the player once again takes control of Lightning as she embarks on her final journey through a new land.

- Details -

LIGHTNING UNDER YOUR CONTROL
Lightning will be the playable character - with a highly evolved range of techniques for battles and exploring the environment. Customise Lightning with a large range of different outfits and weapons; that affect not only the way she looks, but also her actions and abilities.

ACTION-ORIENTED COMBAT
A new battle system gives a level of direct control over the action unlike any FINAL FANTASY game, while having iconic elements that are known and loved throughout the series too.

A CONSTANTLY MOVING, BEAUTIFUL WORLD
Stunning artistic direction depicts a doomed world filled with choice and diversity. Living, expansive environments featuring a rising and setting sun provide unique experiences for every player.

USE YOUR TIME WELL
A world on a course for total annihilation presents unique challenges; where certain areas, missions, and people will only be available during selected periods. How will you use your remaining time?

A CONNECTED EXPERIENCE
Stay connected to FINAL FANTASY and its characters, with unique features that link the in-game world to the real world.

- News -

Announcing Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

We're excited to reveal LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII, a new adventure that puts players in control of iconic heroine Lightning.

On a quest to save a doomed world from complete destruction; time is of the essence. What will you do with your final days when certain areas, missions, and people will only be available during selected periods?

Playing as Lightning you will have a highly evolved range of techniques for battles and for exploring the constantly moving and expansive environment. Players will be able to be able to customize Lightning's looks, actions and abilities with a large range of different outfits and weapons.

“We are pleased to reveal that Lightning is returning as the playable character in this title, and are excited to see how fans react to the more direct battle system and expansive environment that can be explored at will” said Producer Yoshinori Kitase.

LIGHTNING RETURNS introduce a brand new battle system that gives you action unlike any FINAL FANTASY game while also retaining some the iconic elements that you know and love from the series.

Motomu Toriyama, Director added; “Increased levels of player freedom, customization and connectivity with the real world, will ensure that this concluding chapter will be an exhilarating finale to Lightning’s story.”

LIGHTNING RETURNS allows you to stay connected to FINAL FANTASY and its characters with unique features that link the in-game to world to the real world. Keep an eye on the blog for more details soon.

IGN Video Report on Announcement

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (Famitsu Details)

A few new details on Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII have surfaced from an interview in this week's Famitsu. Here are some of the key points:

The game is currently 30% complete

This will be Lightning's last game and will end with a happy ending. The game has just one ending.

The first FFXIII was story driven, meaning that the story pulled the player along. FFXIII-2 was player driven, meaning players selected the story. Lightning Returns is World Driven, meaning players have to consider how they interact with the changing world.

The game's in-game time works out to one day being the equivalent of one to two hours of real time. There will be increases and decreases in time.

The game is meant to be played and cleared multiple times. The volume is not such that it will take many tens of hours to clear once.

People from XIII-2 haven't died. Because of the effects of the chaos (I'm not sure if this is the proper English word), people have stopped aging and don't get old.

The Novus world has four continents, two natural and two city-type.

Depending on your actions, the remaining life of the world could decrease, and the game could end before the 13 day limit.

There are some times when helping someone will decrease the life of the world.

Defeating some enemies and clearing some quests will increase the life of the world.

Lightning is all by herself in battle, allowing you to concentrate more than when you had to control a party.

Lightning has become a considerably more refined person.

You can freely move around during battle. Some elements of the battle system are timing-based.

The battle system is close to action. There's an ATB gauge.

During battle, you don't select menu commands. Instead, you select abilities which have been assigned to buttons.

Hope will give guidance to Lightning via wireless com.

The city has clocks everywhere showing the constant progression of time.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be the last game set in the Final Fantasy XIII universe. While the game’s announcement during PAX noted that the game would wrap up the story of Lightning, it wasn’t clear what that meant for the future of other characters. Could there still be a Final Fantasy XIII-4 telling the story of Snow or Noel? In an interview with IGN, Lightning Returns director Motomu Toriyama has now confirmed that this will not be the case, and Lightning Returns will indeed see the end of XIII’s entire story.

“The ‘Lightning Saga’ that began with Final Fantasy XIII -- in other words, the characters and universe that revolve around Lightning -- will come to an end with this installment,” Toriyama told IGN via translator. “I’m sure that Lightning and the people around her will all have a happy ending. Please look forward to the final episode worthy to be called the denouement of the ‘Lightning Saga.’”

Since the story of Final Fantasy XIII as a whole will be coming to a close, Toryiama confirmed that -- as you might expect -- characters from XIII and XIII-2 could make an appearance. While Hope has already been confirmed, Toriyama says that additional characters may appear. “Other main characters will more than likely make an appearance in many different ways,” he said.

Toriyama also discussed details about Novus Partus -- the world that players will explore in Lightning Returns -- and its connection to XIII and XIII-2’s Gran Pulse. “The new world, Novus Partus, used to be Gran Pulse before it was consumed by chaos,” Toriyama said. “After a few hundred years, it has become a world comprised of the continents that remained until the end. In terms of the world settings, there is a connection to the original, but in terms of graphic resources, we are building an entirely new world.” Toriyama briefly compared the battle system of Lightning Returns to XIII and XIII-2’s Paradigm system as well, noting “Strategy will be less restrictive than that of Paradigm Shift, and more action-packed, making it a new and evolved battle experience.”

Finally, we asked about the decision to return to Lightning in the first place. What about her character makes this a story the team wants to continue telling? “As a game concept, we first and foremost wanted to bring back Lightning from the original Final Fantasy XIII, who had caused a large movement as the symbol of a high-definition game character,” Toriyama said. “From a story perspective, Lightning has had a strong will and courage that allowed her to take a stand against the gods and to continue fighting. At the same time, she has such a strong sense of responsibility that she tends to carry the weight of destiny all by herself. Our biggest hope for Lightning is that through the final battle, she will overcome the tragedy that she isn’t able to save the world or Serah, and come to what she considers a happy ending.”

First Look: Lightning's New Default Design for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

As previously reported, several Japanese publications have been given a first look at Lightning Returns ahead of the first trailer due later this week.
Scans have since surfaced online and represent a more accurate look at Lightning’s new Testuya Nomura drawn outfit. Clad in black armor and a white cape, her new default style seems to be a radical variation of her original XIII-2 armor. Of course, this is her default outfit – more than 20 others will be obtainable throughout the game.

Other gameplay details in the magazine include Lightning’s ability to traverse freely over the game’s variety of terrain including the city. She can jump on obstacles such as telephone polls, and use elements of stealth – something much different than the previous games. To put it simply, she can move about the world freely.

Monsters will make appearances in the town, which is one of the scenes depicted in the scan.
The concept of the game is “the world’s last remaining 13 days.” More Lightning Returns details should be expected in the lead up to Jump Festa so stay tuned.

- Media -

Announcement Presentation

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- Scans -

- Trailers -

- Screenshots -

Last edited by Metal King Slime; 03-22-2013 at 07:46.
Reason: Adding screenshots.

It's just called "Lighting Returns:Final FantasyXIII"?
Huh. Never got around to finish the first one I was 50hrs in. Until my sister messed up my ps3 a couple years ago and I lost my game save. I was so pissed I didn't even want to play it anymore. I don't hate it I just didn't want to dump in another 50. Might just play it again and also get XIII-2

Last edited by Kuro; 09-01-2012 at 14:26.

PSN: xThAkIdJxYx Cod Psn:xxAkiRo‎"It's not important to have a long life, the important thing is to have a happy life with your beloved ones"

It's just called "Lighting Returns:Final FantasyXIII"
Huh. Never got around to finish the first one I was 50hrs in. Until my series messed up my ps3 a couple years ago and I lost my game save. I was so pissed I didn't even want to play it anymore. I don't hate it I just didn't want to dump in another 50. Might just play it again and also get XIII-2

I actually platinumed XIII-2, that's how hooked I got into it. They definitely made some really good improvements.

Me too man, although the first one's plat was a little bit of a grind. However, I'll wait to see more info on this before getting hyped. I just hope they can fix the horrid framerate issues the 2nd game had.

Ha, I'm guessing you've only played 13 and maybe the first three games? 13 is the title that first tainted the series, pretty much single-handedly ruining its great run of titles. FF13 sucks, they should've stopped making 13 games after the first and released Versus 13 and Kingdom Hearts 3 years ago. I'm still not purchasing anything with FF13 elements in it, Dissidia and hopefully-not-All-Stars be damned.

I'm optimistic about the premise behind this game. For a part 3, it sure seems to be departing heavily from the first two games in terms of setting and concepts. After watching the IGN report, it seems like the game will have a looming apocalyptic theme based heavily on time and 13 being a symbol of bad luck (in superstitions, anyway). Not to mention you can "rewind" if you die?

While it's cool that it's an "end of days"-inspired game that releases in 2013, it's ironically the one year when everybody finds out the real world actually doesn't end lol.

I'm curious to know why Lightning is alive at all after 100 years...but maybe people who know the XIII universe know something about Lightning that I don't, having not played any of them.

Originally Posted by Blacksite

Shouldn't it be the other way around? The subtitle comes after the main title. :/

Never underestimate how strange Japanese-made English titles can be.

Megaman's newest game is called Megaman Xover, featuring Megaman characters of all spin-offs. Xover. You know, like Crossover? smh.

I still don't get how "Versus XIII" makes much sense, either. But I just roll with it. lol.

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